When I left the lodge on Wednesday morning I gave my friend 8 (I think) of the magic articulated Sculpin flies. It didn't rain today and it's 50* out but I felt like I needed to replace the flies before going. These things take a long time to make.

This is the type of fly that has a barb less Gamakatsu #4 stinger hook tethered to a shank with 15 pound Power Pro braid. I use a large sewing needle to thread the braid through a strip of bunny fur that is lashed to the stinger.

The braid id knotted to the shank and the bunny fur secured there also. Then I wind the fur forward and tie off. After all that I use spun deer hair - wool - a set of pheasant shoulders for peck fins - and tie in a bunch of dyed grizzly hackles before sliding one of those Sculpin helmets onto the front of the shank and finishing the head.

It is a multi step process and I'm slow. I did replace all the ties and am ready for morning now. I just need to figure out where to go fishing.

This type fly is like a big rainbow magnet. Is anyone else making them or something similar?

Good looking flies Ard, thanks for giving me MORE stuff to think about Actually you did give me an idea of what I can do with a bag of pheasant feathers I've had laying around for a few years--SCULPINS!

I too have been logging what time I have at the bench in preparation for an upcoming Salmon trip. Sometimes you've just gotta sit down and get ready even though a wet line is the preferred alternative.

I've been blending colors on the ties and then seeing what works best, sometimes brown - sometimes olive. The brown & olive seems to be best but they need more time in the rivers before I commit to one color combo. I'm throwing them on my old Hardy 13'9" with a Jetstream 10/11 with a 65' belly. The leader is a ten foot made of; #50 - 40 - 30 - 25 - 20 - and tipped with 15. I have added a piece of 12 pound for today because the river is low and clear but the 15 works just fine. If you try to tip lighter than 15 Ultra Green you must be very careful or you'll break a fly off. I haven't lost any but my buddy had a knot fail on a big trout last week.